Submissions close to the Racing Industry Bill
Yesterday was the last day that submissions could be made to the select committee regarding the upcoming racing legislation, the Racing Industry Bill, which is proceeding through the New Zealand parliament.
Many submissions have been made in recent weeks, particularly those by NZTR (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing).
The last speaker yesterday, John Messara, was also the man tapped to write the report, which was completed in 2018.
The Messara Report is largely the basis of the legislation and Messara spoke at length about his findings, including some of the matters he had hoped would be included in the legislation, but were missing from the bill as presently written.
Messara touched on several matters, one of which was code representation (thoroughbred racing, harness racing and greyhound racing) on the New Zealand Racing Board, a topic he gave considerable space to in his report.
The legislation as currently written does not reflect his research, recommendations and possible solution, a major point also raised by many industry leaders.
He used his previous wide experience with this problem by explaining how code representation was carried out in New South Wales, where it is very successful.
The three board members representing the three codes need not necessarily be chairpersons of their individual organizations but should certainly be highly–respected, probably successful business people, who know how to get things done. Getting the structure right included appointing people with top qualifications and excellent leadership.
Each code could narrow their choices to one or two potential candidates and then leave the final selection to the Racing Minister, but code input was of the utmost importance.
“With code representation brings accountability and seriousness,” Messara said. “Now is the time to get things right. After all, with representation, you have the responsibility to run it” (versus a government bureaucrat).
According to Messara, this might be the last chance to get things right.
A second point covered wagering. “In order for wagering to become more attractive, grow and help fund badly needed additional prize-money, the New Zealand TAB needs to become a joint operator,” Messara continued.
In addition, it needs to “piggy-back” onto one or more international operators.
Messara also pointed out: “New Zealand has one great advantage – being the two-plus hours ahead of Australia and Asia, a first bite of the cherry.”
He believes that the industry cannot continue to go cap in hand to the government of the day and keep asking for financial help, while many clubs are simply not sustainable.
Also, some of the TV coverage, especially of meetings held by those struggling clubs, shows the industry in an unfortunate light. Messara described the images as depicting a shabby look, not the sort of image the industry needs to show to international viewers.
That subject is one that divides the industry due mostly to understandable parochialism. Messara has empathy and sympathy for the clubs and tracks that might be affected if the legislation ultimately takes up the recommendations listed in his report, which include closing 20 tracks.
However, Messara went to great lengths to point out that those same clubs and tracks need not disappear but that they should merge on a district basis. Clubs that have run their annual meeting or Cup race should still have their major races run, but may have to hold their meeting at a track that is within a reasonable driving distance.
In closing, Messara stated that the reforms recommended in his report do work, with New South Wales being proof.
“I agree with NZTR’s submissions which will bring us closer to the industry’s needs and goals,” he concluded.